Chrisman Operator In Hot Water
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The meeting of the Chrisman City Council began with the approval of executive session meeting minutes from both August 16th & September 7th. Approval was also granted for building permits at 620 East Lincoln & 332 North Indiana.
Anita Marvin, who heads the Christmas in Chrisman celebrations, was present at the meeting to make sure that both Marvin and the council were on the same page for guidelines to decorate the park. “I wanted to know what you guys were going to do about Frosty and if he can be repaired?” Marvin said.
Last year, Frosty had some damage and was thought to be able to be repaired so he would be sitting on the band stand as in previous years.
Mayor Danny Owen spoke about the matter stating that he could not be fixed. The attachments that held him to the ground were ripped out. The question then arose of what could possibly be put in his place.
“We don’t have anything else,” Owen said. “The old Frosty, I don’t know what happened to him”.
Marvin mentioned that something needs to be put on the bandstand because it ‘looks bare’ without anything. “Do you have the funds to take care of it or is it something we need to start asking the community about?” asked Marvin.
Commissioner Thad Crispin mentioned that there is no money allocated for any type of purchase like this. Mayor Owen questioned the Chrisman decorating fund and if it was still available. Commissioner Bryan Haddix stated that he believed the fund was done away with when a company was hired to put up new decorations on the light posts around Christmas time.
Decorating for Christmas in Chrisman usually takes place the weekend after Thanksgiving and decor is taken down after the first of the year. Many former residents who come home the weekend before Thanksgiving have approached Marvin about decorating at that time, but not lighting up the decorations until the Friday after Thanksgiving, per usual.
Commissioner Crispin just wanted to make sure that the park was cleaned up and the grass was mowed before any decorations would be put up. “I want to make sure it’s cleaned up first,” said Crispin.
Marvin also asked about the memorial and what distance decorations needed to be from it. Commissioner Rodney Wolfe said that he didn’t see the harm in not having any distance requirements.
Members of the council just stated to use their best judgment when decorating and not to run cords on the sidewalks or in the rock by the memorial.
Marvin mentioned that she had heard people saying that when you come into Chrisman around Christmas time that it looks ‘like a ghost town’.
In years past, at the four way stop, a sign that said ‘Seasons Greetings’ was hung. Now, due to liability issues, this hasn’t been able to happen.
Commissioner Wolfe said that he would feel better just putting something on the bandstand as well as lights along the road as decorations.
“We’ll look at this decorating fund,” Mayor Owen said.
At last month’s meeting, Police Chief Tom Dolan mentioned that he would talk to the company that the police department would be buying the radios from about a possible trade in value.
“They didn’t have very much to offer, just twenty five (dollars) per radio,” said Dolan. The radios that Dolan is looking to purchase has a long waiting list due to a chip that has to be installed. “He can’t give me an ETA yet,” said Dolan.
Eric Bohle gave a thank you to Commissioner Wolfe and Commissioner Haddix for their help at dumpster days and the hours they put in. Commissioner Crispin is still waiting for quotes to move forward on the pavilion.
Commissioner Wolfe actually had good news concerning the water project. Wolfe spoke to the engineer for the water project who told him that the paperwork should be coming to the city anytime for the commissioners to sign for the water pipes to go under the railroad.
“It’s a done deal,” Wolfe said. “It’s coming, hopefully within the week. We sign it and we get on Paris water.”
After being hired three months ago, the Chrisman water operator, Zach Nelson, still hasn’t taken his test. By requirement of the job, in those ninety days, a test is to be taken to become certified. If not, the penalty is usually termination of the position.
The position will very soon need someone with the necessary license.
Wolfe stated that he can not afford a full time guy without raising rates. “If I’m selling for five dollars and paying three fifty, I’m only making a dollar fifty,” Wolfe said. “That’s only a little over one hundred and twenty dollars profit I’ll make in a day.
It will cost me probably two hundred dollars a day for an employee with his wage and insurance. So we’re going to go in the hole.”
The license of a B or D is necessary to move forward. “A C license will get me through,” said Wolfe. A number three license would be needed for the sewer. The question became to either have one guy for both jobs or have two different positions.
“Yours (department) will be labor intensive here in a while,” said Commissioner Cory Chaney to Wolfe. “You get your meters done, the hard part is over.”
Commissioner Crispin brought up giving the current water operator a chance to take the test or to just hire someone else with the proper qualifications. “It’s always ninety days. He’s in or he’s out,” said Wolfe. “I hate to do this to him, but I can’t afford a full time guy.”
Crispin asked if Wolfe wanted to give someone a chance to take a test on the sewer side. “It’s not hard to sign up to go take one. It’s up to you guys,” said Crispin.
Wolfe made the decision to extend the ninety days to see where things would go with the sewer. “I’ll get him to sign up for a test,” said Wolfe.
Wolfe made the motion for the extension of Nelson’s probation period until the end of the year, pending that he takes his water test.
“He can take whatever test he wants,” said Wolfe. Mayor Owen stated that it would be better to take the ‘D’ test and Crispin said that they still had the money to help out to take the necessary testing.
Commissioner Haddix told the council that another letter has been sent to the residence south of Longview Bank about cleaning up their yard.
In another matter, Commissioner Wolfe asked Crispin if he had planned on giving the bucket truck to Prairie Township.
“No one has approached me,” Crispin said.
The city employees can not use the truck due to the standards. “As an outside contractor, yes, we can use them,” said Wolfe.
City employee Eric Bohle stated that the problem with the bucket coming down was a problem.
“We got it out and a day or two later, I couldn’t get it to start,” said Bohle. “We’re talking within twelve hours. It wouldn’t do anything”. The bucket truck has two batteries and a huge alternator and could be pricey once replacing of parts begin.
